The Impact of Title 42 on U.S. Immigration and Border Policies

The end of Title 42 has raised questions about the potential increase in the number of people entering the US and the cost to taxpayers. Unauthorized migrants are not eligible for most major federal aid programs, but some federal programs, such as emergency Medicaid, are available to them. Legal migrants can access federal aid programs after residing in the US for five years, with some exceptions. Some states have enacted laws that allow migrants to tap their benefit programs, but many exclude unauthorized migrants. Unauthorized migrants paid almost $31 billion in federal and state taxes in 2021.